CADER Partners with Boston Public Health Commission to Create Interactive Online Courses that  Support Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care 

As dementia prevalence rises nationwide, the Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research (CADER) at Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) is partnering with the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) to create skills-based online courses for community health workers (CHWs) to support older adults and individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  

The training series leverages CADER’s expertise in aging and disability education, providing interactive, competency-based modules. Topics include dementia recognition, risk reduction, best practices for communicating with and supporting those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, and caregiver support. The series will benefit both CHWs who are seeking professional development opportunities and patients and families who rely on support from CHWs to navigate aging and disability systems and resources within and outside of clinical settings. 

BPHC and CADER will follow a phased approach to course development and implementation.  

• Phase one will include interviews, surveys, and pilot testing with CHWs and key stakeholders to identify content gaps and refine the curriculum.  

• Phase two will encompass the development of new interactive modules, multimedia activities, and comprehensive program evaluation.  

All training content will be tailored to address the practical challenges CHWs face in the field and will be accredited for continuing education in Massachusetts. Following the pilot, the program will be revised and prepared for a broader rollout.  

Through this partnership, BPHC and CADER are helping to build a more knowledgeable, culturally responsive, and inclusive community health workforce. This initiative will help meet the current and future needs of aging populations and those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across the city.  

This initiative is part of the Boston BOLD Project, funded by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (BOLD Act). The project supports building strong, sustainable, equitable, and culturally responsive public health infrastructure that meets the needs of people at risk of or living with dementia, and their caregivers.